Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in Belgrade and other towns, contesting the authorities' attempts to manipulate the results of municipal elections. Many were brutally beaten by the Serbian police.

After three months of protests, Milosevic finally caved in, returning the so-called "stolen elections" to the opposition.

But not long afterwards, the coalition movement, Zajedno, or "Together", broke up amid reciprocal accusations of betrayal and collaboration with Milosevic.

In July 1997 Milosevic was elected as Yugoslav President by the federal parliament, which was controlled by his supporters.